Ashley’s Law Allows Medical Cannabis in Illinois Schools

Starting on August 1st, students with medical marijuana cards may be administered cannabis products at school.

Known as Ashley’s Law, the School Code now allows students to be given medical cannabis infused products at school or on the school bus. A parent or a designated caregiver must administer the product to student. After the student is given the cannabis product, it must be removed from the school or school bus.

Medical cannabis infused products include oils, ointments, foods, and other products that contain usable cannabis but are not smoked. Only students who are registered qualifying patients under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program are eligible to use these products, and both the student and the designated caregiver must have a registry identification card. Students are eligible to register if a physician has diagnosed them with a debilitating medical condition. A designated caregiver must be at least 21 years old and meet other requirements under the law.

No school employee can be required to administer the medical cannabis product, and a school does not have to allow use of these products at school if it would disrupt the school’s educational environment, expose other students to the product, or if the district would lose federal funding as a result of doing so. The law does not allow students to smoke cannabis at school.

Ashley’s Law applies to school districts, public schools, charter schools, and nonpublic schools, which all must now adopt policies to implement it.